- Cars in the automotive scene that just don't get
as much love as they deserve.
Whether you're talking about the classic Mazda Miata
being criticized for it's lack of--
(clears throat) angri--
(clears throat) - ness,
or the S2000 which just seemed to disappear
from the vocabulary of many enthusiasts out there today.
But there are other cars from across the lovely pacific
that don't get the love they deserve anymore,
even though they used to.
They were in the Fast and Furious,
they were in the other cool movies.
Remember when you cried when Woody wasn't played
with anymore in Toy Story?
It's pretty much the same scenario and I've never
seen Toy Story in my life.
- Pardon?
- But there is a car out there right now that deserves
to be in the sun and get a little bit of a tan.
It's a car, that since its conception,
has always been a solid pick by enthusiasts
that wanted something that was like sharp,
and comfortable.
A car that could do a little bit of everything,
but could still make your parents proud of you.
I'm Alex, alex.fi on Instagram, and today's episode
of So You Won't, we are talking about the one,
the only Lexus IS300.
(exciting music)
(car revving, tires screeching)
(exciting music)
If you haven't subscribed yet, or liked the video
be sure to do so because you know what?
We seek a little self-validation through that number
just like everyone else.
Or don't!
But if you don't do that and you're looking for after market
wheels, tires, or suspension, be sure to check out
fitmentindustries.com, where we have it all,
whether you're looking for parts for your newly acquired
Lexus IS, or Subaru, because unfortunately winter is coming.
Back in 1999, Lexus was a powerhouse.
Introduction of vehicles like the RX300, and the LX470 SUV,
they're pretty much being like Uncle Scrooge
without the (beep) attitude.
Monthly sales were surpassing pretty much all luxury
competitors, and they had absolutely
no plans of slowing down.
But instead of making an even bigger SUV,
which is a thing,
Infiniti does it, they have these massive SUVs,
not entirely sure why.
They decided to act unlike the sport compact segment,
like a little kids' sized pool that it seemed
to go throughout the 90s by Mazda, Nissan,
and even their own Toyota.
But they kinda wanted to attack a little bit
of a different market.
They wanted to attack the old BMW market, the 328i,
to be exact.
So, in 1999, Lexus introduced the IS Altezza,
which is Italian for highness.
The Altezza would be rebadged in North America's IS300,
or the JCE10 in 2000.
Their engineering work was originally done
by Nobuaki Katayami.
The man behind the AE86, and I hope I got that right.
Trying my best.
From its launch, to Japan, it's eventual introduction
into the Europe and US market, the Lexus IS300 was an
absolute hit right out of the get go, mostly because
it was coined off of the 328 platform as much
as humanly possible.
One of its more unique features about the car that
most people still loved this day, would be
the rear light clusters, the clear covered tail lights
would be initially created to the IS line due to the
influence of the aftermarket car scene of prior years.
The Lexus was watching a little F and F.
It would become so popular around the IS cars
that it influenced other manufacturers
and even the boys with the other cars,
from around the world to try the same
clear-ish style tail lights.
Probably the only platform they could actually
pull it off anymore these days, but hey,
everybody had 'em in the early 2000s.
The cars introduced in USA would feature the iconic
3.0 liter 6-cylinder, 2JZ motor, which is what
everybody talks about when they own one of these.
But it is a little bit weaker.
Now, depending on where you live, you can get
manual and automatic transmission.
Depending on the year, you got rear wheel drift,
you got yourself a few other goodies if you're interested
in paying the extra coin, but one of the most common
misconceptions about picking up the IS300
modifiable car, is that the motors are identical
to the Supra.
(clears throat)
I don't mean to do this to you.
But they're not.
They're close!
But they're not.
They feature weaker rods and different inner parts
that aren't as bulletproof as their mark four (inaudible)
But, you can modify all of that because it's still
the same block, and if you really wanna spend all the money
on your IS300, you can certainly do that,
and still brag with the fact that it's got a 2JZ motor
and have a million horsepower.
Lexus would introduce a sport cross version eventually
which was all sorts of awesome and confusing
at the same time.
It had a little split fold down seat,
so you can fit awkward things inside.
It's kind of interesting body style,
but overall, it was just like, like that.
Just, neat.
- How neat is that? That's pretty--
- Neat.
The additional generations would kick the three liter
out the door, and replace it with a 2.5 liter.
The IS250, or a 3.5 liter for the IS350, which would
make that, hopefully make sense.
Which is not an IS300, which is therefore why we are
not talking about it.
The IS300's initial release did fantastic but the following
years never really hit as hard.
It was competing against some of the big dogs of Mercedes
and BMW, which has been Lexus's thing for a long time.
Pretty much making a luxury version of the cars
without the luxury price.
Both of which really had a strangle hold in the US market,
and although Lexus had a reputation for quality,
it wasn't one that could really steer new car owners
away from their beloved German cars.
But no more history, because we're done with that.
Now, we're talking about what if one of us,
(short breaths)
wants one?
I mean, right?
So you want a Lexus IS300.
Well put down your basketball gauges and grab your
$5 buck box, because we're about to talk about
son, it's gonna be a great time, and I hope you're ready.
The Lexus IS300 is a car that has reached a point
where they are relatively inexpensive to pickup
and aren't terrible to look at.
Their front ends have little angry like,
like whoosh headlights that go up the fender,
and their rear ends still have the sporty cutoff
that work fence has to put like a duck bill lip.
They have everything you need to make them angry and fun.
With a little over 200 horsepower, foot pounds of torque,
it's fun to drive as well, right out of the get to.
It's not gonna be inherently you know, Speedy Gonzales,
but it's gonna get the job done.
It has a small size, which is damn near identical
to the 328i.
Well most of the cars actually gonna be
pretty identical to the 328i.
The car feels like a sports car, because of its
handling the fact that the power curve never really tries
to break your nose, which is nice.
On the other end of the fence,
it's notorious for burning oil and snapping timing belts.
So pro tip, to open up the ole' hood if you're looking
to buy one and see if there's a little sticker,
probably yellow, that's gonna tell you when the timing
belt was changed last.
So you can skeet skeet safely
in your neighborhood parking lot.
From a used ownership point of view,
these cars can be like, oh.
You know, it's all about which ones you buy
because if the cars weren't taken care of when they were
you know, in the parents garage back in 2000,
they won't last.
If they weren't taken to the dealership, they won't last.
Plastics peel, dashes fade, headlights turn yellow,
the car has reached an age where cosmetic maintenance
is required if you want to keep the car looking
like it should.
But when you do, it's so freakin' sweet.
It looks so good!
For modifications, everyone starts with the simple stuff.
Wheels end up going up to the ESR lineup or works.
Not much really seems to be in the middle for the IS300.
You got your single sticks spokes or your double fives
look best on these cars, with some decent all season tires,
because most people actually end up driving these bad boys
all year around.
Yokohama Advans and Falkens are where you're gonna see
most people trust their rubber, ha.
Meegan, Megan, Mygan, what do I, why do I do this to myself?
Megan or Meegan, whichever one you're feeling,
Varrock or Varrack, whatever.
You're gonna see those a lot in the coil overs,
otherwise actually (inaudible) has gotten
extremely popular too.
But if you're looking to swing the car sideways
and spruce up it's life from the baby little 200
horsepower, you definitely can,
because it's still a 2JZ block.
Brr brr brr brr brr, all right?
2JZ, you can modify these engines.
You just have to be comfortable with blowing a ton of money
that you will never, ever, ever, get back.
IS300s don't have the best of times with resale value
on modifications because most people that own them
simply daily drive them with some wheels, coil overs,
intake, exhausts, and nothing else.
Bing, bang, boom.
And those that choose to go all in, usually end up
driving them until they blow up.
But it does have the sugar, spice and everything nice
to turn it in to just about whatever you would
want it to be.
It's just not as popular as a car as it once was.
And you have to be comfortable with that,
if you're looking to pick one up.
So you want an IS300.
It's a great used car right now.
It looks good, it behaves well, it competes against
the 328 of its time pretty well,
and it has four doors.
You can brag about having the Supra engine
and it's fun in the back roads, you can have people
in the back of the car, 'cause guess what?
You like to be practical with two extra doors.
The car does have to be taken care of
or it will fall apart.
There's no exceptions to that.
And you'll see more people daily driving these
and going crazy with them because that is what they are
properly good at.
Being a good, clean, daily.
What do you think about IS300s and what car
should we cover next?
Don't forget to let us know below
and of course if you're looking for aftermarket
wheels, tires, or suspension, hit up your boys
at fitmentindustries.com.
It'd mean a lot.
Might even drop a heart on a comment,
and we're also going to SEMA this year in a couple weeks
so lets us know who we should talk to,
bug, prod, bother, kick, trip, or run at.
And, we'll probably go do that.
Either way, I'm Alex from Fitment Industries
and we will see you later, peace!